Good seat adjustment and both reach and height adjustment for the steering means getting a comfortable driving position in the Avensis is pretty easy, although the seating position still feels quite high. The ‘Optitron’ permanently back-lit dials help give the interior an up-market feel, but the dashboard itself with ventilation and audio controls that look like they’ve been lifted from an expensive home audio system.

Visibility is good all-round.

The Avensis should accommodate five adults with decent leg room and shoulder room, although rear headroom could be tight for people approaching six-feet tall. Air conditioning is standard across the range and electric front windows. Noise levels are also respectably low.